Peace grows together
THE City of Cockburn has planted two trees with deeprooted connections to Hiroshima in the name of harmony.
Two six-year-old Ginkgo biloba saplings were planted at Yandi Park in Cockburn Central on September 21 as part of the City’s first official event to celebrate International Day of Peace.
The saplings were grown from the seeds of a Ginkgo biloba that was just 500m from the blast epicentre during the World War II bombing of the Japanese city 75 years ago.
That tree was destroyed but it regrew. Seeds have been collected from it ever since for distribution to global organisations for special occasions.
The City of Fremantle in August planted two seeds from the same tree at Dick Lawrence Reserve in Beaconsfield as part of its commemoration of Hiroshima Day.
Raised by the City of South Perth at its nursery, the trees, also known as Maidenhair trees due to their fern-like leaves, were donated to Cockburn by the City of Fremantle after they were given several seeds by the Hiroshima chapter of Mayors for Peace in 2014.
Cockburn’s trees were planted by Mayor Logan Howlett and local school children.
The City of Cockburn has been part of the Mayors for Peace organisation since 2011.